In-Box Review

introduction

RT-505B/PRC-25 also known as Prick was the first solid state FM backpack radio and made military tactical communication reliable. It was widely used across the world for almost 30 years and today in some regions it still remains in widespread use even after it has been superseded by more up to date equipment.
It was the major field radio of the Vietnam War. The radio consisted of two parts, both in metal boxes called cans. The upper can held the receiver/transmitter radio itself, the lower can held its BA-4386 magnesium battery pack. Metal buckles held the two together. It was about the size and weight of a case of soda. There was a handle on each side at the top to carry it.
The radio was tough and would easily survive a 50 foot fall from a helicopter onto a metal-planked runway. You could throw the whole thing in the water for an hour, completely submerged, then pull it out and expect it to work. It could be battery powered for use as a backpack radio, or it could be plugged into an external power source for use in a vehicle or a helicopter.B6-35077 US PRC-25 Radio & Accessories includes three radios and add-on parts for different uses.

packing & casting

Kit comes in a cardboard box labeled with a photo of the radio and backside shows how to assembly PE parts for backpacks and headphones.
Resin parts and PE parts are inserted into seperate plastic bags. Resin quality is very good, details are clean and crisp, no mistakes or no serious cleanwork.

parts

The kit includes parts to build three PRC-25, which two of them can be assembled as mobile versions attached to backpack. There are four sprues of three kind inside the kit.

SPRUE-A (x2)

AN/PRC-25 ; Details like audio inputs, switchs,tunings and antenna mount are very well defined.

LS-166/U Radio Loudspeaker ; It is OD green painted aluminium frame and has a switch located on the side to switch it between field/pack use and vehicle use.

H250/U Handset
The radio's weak point was the communications handsets. The handsets were like a telephone handset, with a "push to talk" bar. A hook on the back allowed user to hang the handset off his web gear, etc. The handset could simply not get wet. In a wet, humid, country like Vietnam, this was a serious problem. The usual way to deal with this was to put the handset inside the clear plastic bag, tie it in place with a rubber band, and use it like that. Fording streams, the handset had to be held clear of the water. For all that, the microphone was fairly sensitive and could even be whispered into.

ST-138 Radio Harness; Cotton duck electrical equipment harness was designed to allow the PRC-25 radio to be carried on the operators back. The radio was supported by a pair of metal braces and fastened to the harness by two retaining straps. Corner brackets hold the weight of the radio and stiffeners distribute the weight along either side of backbone. A big vent hole let the sweat drain out

conclusion

This is a very nice kit for Vietnam War field radio PRC-25 in all details with its high quality cast and photetched parts.

SUMMARY

Highs: Crisp details on resin parts, quality of PE parts are very nice. Three different uses of PRC-25 radio.Lows: No lows on this product.Verdict: Very useful for all Vietnam War builts. IT can be used in vehicles, small or large dioramas.

Born in 1962,married and having 2 sons. I started modelling about 8 years old building USS Fletcher with mom. It was a model dad brought from USA., I think in those days only a few people in Turkey had info on scale model kits. Grown as an AF officer son , I built many aircraft models in years. Som...

A slight correction from an old Telecommunications Artificer. The handsets shown here are actually an H138 and a H189, the 250 is much slimmer and smaller. The RT 505 was not entirely solid state and had a Valve PA which necesitated a 3V supply for the heater cct in the Batteery which wass brilliant when using the battery to power walkmans, stereos etc. Not a bad looking set and can easily be used for the fully solid state successor the RT 841/PRC 77 which is outwardly identical except for the nomenclature plate.